Sponge device



ug. 25, `1936. J, ALEFANTls I 2,052,337

sPoNGE DEVICE Filed om.- 7, 19,55 2 sheets-shan, 1'

25, 1936. JI ALEFANTls SPONGE DEVICE Filed oct. 7, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Aug. 25, 1936V UNITED f STATES PATENT OFFICE] 'j SPQNGE DEVICE James Alefantis, Tarpon Springs, Fla.

Application October 7, 1935, Serial No. 43,974

2 Claims.

My present invention is an improvement upon the means of treating sponges as shown and described in my pending application for patent, Serial #754,922, filed November 26, 1934, on Work glove, and more particularly it is my purpose to process an ordinary sponge so that it will lie flat and at the same time form a full bodied sponge for use either on a work glove, as a sponge pad or the like. Another object is to provide a means for processing a relatively small sponge having a shape unsuitable to provide a large work surface for a work glove or the like, so that it may be attened out in the proper shape. My method of treating a sponge saves labor, time and money, and provides a more desirable and emcient article for commercial use. It is a further object of my invention to provide means whereby several thin, cheap sponges may be bound together to form a desirable sponge pad, or working surface for a sponge Work glove or the like,

As defined in my pending application, it is desirable in forming a sponge work glove or mit to have a relatively full bodied, relatively thick, sponge work face which is stitched to the fabric glo-ve or mit back; and at the same time such a glove or mit must be cheap, easily manufactured, and it is desirable that the Sponges used in its manufacture be of the type .which will ordinarily not be marketable as first class, prime Sponges. It is also desirable that in the manufacture of such gloves, mits, pads and the like, that a means be found whereby otherwise unmarketable sponges may be given the desirable characteristics of prime or first class sponge It is my purpose to attain these ends.

In my present invention Iv take a relatively small sponge and wet it so that it greatly increases in size and becomes soft. I then split the sponge in themanner hereinafter described and open it up to lie fiat and while wet attach it to a Work glove, mit or fabric pad, so that the inherent elasticity of the sponge is utilized to not only facilitate shaping it to the desired uses, but when finished it will cover the face of a mit, glove or pad.

Thin cheap Sponges are dicult to market commercially, and I have also found that such sponges may be placed together back to back and stitched or bound around their edges to provide a full bodied sponge pad or the like, or work face for a work glove which is highly desirable and has all of the water retaining characteristics and softness of a prime sponge.

Other and equally important advantages of my invention will be apparent as the description (Cl. 15--244l proceeds, but the scope of my invention should only be determined by reference to the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein I have illustrated a preferred and several modified forms of my in- 5 ventionz- Figure 1 is a view of a sponge before it has been soaked in water;

Figure 2 is a View of a sponge such as is shown in Figure 1 after it has been soaked in water and l0 shows its enlarged size;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the watersoaked sponge shown in Figure 2 partially cut through after the principle of my invention;

Figure 4 is a view of the cut-sponge shown in l5 Figure 3 opened up and laid flat;

Figure 5 is a View of the flattened out cut sponge shown in Figure 4 laid upon a fabric mit body and stitched thereto to form a desirable sponge work mit 20 Figure 6 is a plan view of two thin, cheap sponges sewn together to form a full bodied commercial sponge;

Figure 7 is an edge view thereof;

Figure 8 is a view of the double sponge of Fig- 25 ures 6 and '7 applied to a fabric mit body or the like to form a full bodied face; or edged and bound with tape to form a full bodied sponge;

Figure 9 is a section through Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a view of a sponge processed as in 30 Figures 1-2-3, but with several cuts taken therein, and

Figure 11 is a view of the sponge shown in Figure l0 opened up fiat for stitching to a mit body or the like. 35

In the drawings wherein like or similar reference numerals are used to designate like or similar parts:-

As shown in Figure 1 the dry sponge A is relatively small, but after it is soaked in water 40v it enlarges and becomes relatively soft and elastic as shown in Figure 2. I then out the enlarged, wet sponge about half-way in two, or to the center point as shown at B in Figure 3, and fiatten the cut sponge out so that the cut surface 45 C lies as shown in Figure l (the medial line between the two sections being shown at D); the

' flattened split sponge A is then placed on a fabric mit body, or glove or pad, E as shown in Figure 5 and stitched down thereon -around its 50 edges as at F. If desired the wet sponge may be formed with a plurality of cuts as shown in Figure 10 and then flattened out as shown in Figure l1 with similar results, and several cut Sponges may be stitched together on a fabric 55 mit body. By this means I am enabled to use relatively cheap sponges, but it is necessary before splitting them to wet them so that they will swell and become soft and elastic, so that when split and stitched down they will cover the desired area and will flatten on the fabric with the cut surface C flat against the fabric and the natural sponge surface facing outwardly. It is the method of manufacturing this type of sponge body, or mit or glove or pad, which I consider advantageous and unique. In Figure 6, I show two relatively thin low grade Sponges G stitched together as at H to form a. full bodied commercial sponge. Figure 7 is an edge view. These may be bound and stitched with tape or binding J as shown in Figure 8; a section being shown in Figure 9. By this means I am enabled to utilize relatively useless, thin Sponges to form a full bodied commercial sponge, or mits or work gloves of the type described in my pending application Serial #754,922.

While it is believed that the operation, method, and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the foregoing, it is again pointed out that by this method I am enabled to salvage sponges which would otherwise be unmarketable. The scope and interpretation of my invention is to be determined from the claims appended hereto, and the right to make ch-anges in form, size, shape and minor details of construction is reserved.

I claim:-

l. The method of treating Sponges consisting in rst soaking the sponge to enlarge and soften the same, and then cutting the sponge at a point midway its ends and to a point about half way through the sponge, and then opening the sponge up at the cut and flattening the same out, and then stitching the attened sponge upon a base.

2. The method of treating sponges consisting in rst soaking the sponge to enlarge and soften the same, and then cutting the sponge in such a manner that all of the outside exposed surfaces will lie in the same plane when the sponge is flattened out with the out surfaces pulled away from each other and faced downwardly in the same plane, and then attaching the flattened sponge to a base.

JAMES ALEFANTIS. 

